Southwest Minnesota State University vs. BSC

Should I go to Southwest Minnesota State University or Bismarck State College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Southwest Minnesota State University or BSC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Southwest Minnesota State University vs. Bismarck State College comparison
Southwest Minnesota State University Bismarck State College College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Southwest Minnesota State University BSC
Location Marshall, MN Bismarck, ND
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 6,930 3,771
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #948
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smsu.edu bismarckstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Southwest Minnesota State University BSC
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $4,167
Tuition (Out of State) $8,840 $6,251
Room & Board $9,258 $7,830
Avg Net Price $15,004 $11,309
Avg Grant Aid $7,389 $4,239
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 70%

Admission

 Southwest Minnesota State University BSC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,558 -
Admitted 1,427 -
Acceptance Rate 91.6% Open
Enrolled % 22.8% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.21 -
Typical High School Grades B -
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 935/1102
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 18, 2025

Academics

 Southwest Minnesota State University BSC
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (41%)
  • Engineering Technology (27%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (6%)
  • Construction Trades (5%)

Outcomes

 Southwest Minnesota State University BSC
Graduation Rate 39% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,200 $49,200
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,678 $11,041
Median Loan Payment $224 $114

Diversity

 Southwest Minnesota State University BSC
% Men 38% 52%
% Women 62% 48%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 86%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 5% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 Southwest Minnesota State University BSC
% In-State 74% 89%
% Out-of-State 20% 10%

Campus

 Southwest Minnesota State University BSC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than BSC based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 3,771 students)

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. BSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University or BSC?

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is 112.1% more expensive to attend than BSC for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $4,167.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41.4% higher at Southwest Minnesota State University than Bismarck State College ($8,840.00 vs. $6,251.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bismarck State College than Southwest Minnesota State University ($11,309 vs. $15,004)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bismarck State College are 18.2% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($7,830 vs. $9,258)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwest Minnesota State University than Bismarck State College (94% vs. 70%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students is 74.3% larger than aid received Bismarck State College ($7,389 vs. $4,239)

Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University or BSC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between BSC or Southwest Minnesota State University .

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. BSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southwest Minnesota State University or BSC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between BSC and Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • Graduates from Bismarck State College earn on average $8,000 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($49,200 vs. $41,200)
  • Bismarck State College students graduate with a $10,637 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($11,041 vs. $21,678)
  • BSC graduates are paying $110 less per month on federal student loans than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($114 vs. $224)
  • More BSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/